The invention discloses a method for selecting an optimal protection path from multiple protection paths and an end point device and relates to the field of automatic protection switching in communication transmission. The method comprises that a sending end device sends APS messages containing fault information to all protection paths if a fault generates in an operating path; for a shared protection path, a first node in a shared segment adds occupancy state information into the APS messages to be sent to downstream nodes; and receiving end devices receive all the APS messages and select the optimal protection path according to a selection mechanism, wherein the selection mechanism comprises selecting a dedicated protection path according to a preset sequence if dedicated protection paths are provided; if dedicated protection paths are not provided, selecting an idle protection path according to a preset sequence when idle protection paths are provided; and when just a occupied shared protection path is provided, seizing the shared protection path according to a sequence from high-priority service to low-priority service on the shared protection path. The method automatically selects the optimal protection path, fully utilizes protection resources, and prevents multiple switching.